JP2006004405A - Transaction card comprising two magnetic stripes - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for energizing and using a composite transaction card having two storage media. <P>SOLUTION: This composite transaction card is provided with a substantially planar transaction part board 14 having a machine-readable transaction storage medium 4. The transaction storage medium 4 has a transaction part 14 having transaction card data associated with an account stored therein, and a substantially planar activation part board 12 detachably connected to the transaction part 14 and having a provided machine-readable activation storage medium 2. The activation storage medium 2 is provided with an activation part 12 having activation data associated with an account stored therein. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The transaction card of the present invention, particularly a composite card including a transaction portion coupled to an activation portion, wherein the transaction portion and the activation portion each comprise a storage medium.

  In order to prevent fraud and theft, transaction cards such as credit cards, debit cards, stored value cards are issued in an inactive state and the cards must be activated before use. Separate activation steps can serve at least two important purposes. First, this can ensure that the card is owned by a legitimate cardholder. For example, the card can be energized when a legitimate cardholder confirms receipt, such as by accessing a central processor (eg, via a telephone) and providing personal identification information. Secondly, the energization can guarantee that the card has been purchased effectively with a compliant value (not stolen). For example, a prepaid card is activated when purchased with valid funds, such as by scanning a bar code on a package containing the card at a point of sale and receiving payment on the card.

  After activation, the transaction card can be used to purchase goods and services from the merchant. Most transaction cards, such as credit cards, debit cards, and stored value cards, have a single magnetic strip that stores magnetically encoded data associated with an account. This magnetic strip is swiped (passed through the machine) at the merchant's terminal in a transaction where the cardholder accesses the account amount or credit to purchase goods and services. Typically, the magnetic stripe is encoded with data that allows transactions where the card account funds are accessed over a communications network such as a credit or debit network. For example, the encoded data may include an account identifier such as a bank identification number (BIN) or a card number. The encoded data on the magnetic strip enables transactions, which are typically not configured to allow card activation at a merchant outside the issuing merchant location. Thus, biasing is typically accomplished using means other than a single magnetic strip on the card. As described above, the card can be energized by scanning a bar code on the phone or package containing the card.

  Other cards can be energized by swiping the card's magnetic strip. However, these cards require that the magnetic strip encoding be the same during card activation and normal use. This is typically not issued when a single merchant system handles both card activation and regular use. However, problems arise when two different systems are involved because different systems must adjust the card's bias before allowing their normal use.

  The magnetic strip is encoded only for activation purposes, and the normal functioning of the card does not require a magnetic strip. For example, a phone card can display the PIN used for a wireless phone call activated by swiping the magnetic strip on the card, after which the magnetic strip needs to access the PIN value And not.

  Another type of transaction card has two or more magnetic strips on a single standard size transaction card. Two or more magnetic stripes can be used to access two different transaction accounts. In this way, the cardholder can carry a single transaction card instead of two different credit cards or other transaction cards.

  In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus and method for activating and using a transaction card comprising two storage media is provided. The composite transaction card includes a transaction portion that is removably coupled to the activation portion. The transaction portion has a substantially flat transaction portion substrate with a machine readable transaction storage medium provided thereto. The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the account stored therein. The biasing portion includes a substantially flat biasing partial substrate having a machine readable biasing storage medium provided thereto. The activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein.

  In another exemplary embodiment, a method for using a composite transaction card is provided. The transaction card has a transaction portion that includes a machine-readable transaction storage medium and a removable activation portion that includes a machine-readable transaction storage medium. The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the account stored therein. The activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein. According to the method, the activation data is read from the activation storage medium at the first merchant terminal. The energizing part is removed from the transaction part. The transaction part cannot be accessed until the energizing part is removed. Transaction data is read from the transaction storage medium at the second merchant terminal.

  In another exemplary embodiment, a system for processing a composite transaction card is provided. The transaction card has a transaction portion that includes a machine-readable transaction storage medium and a removable activation portion that includes a machine-readable activation storage medium. The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the account stored therein. The activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein. The system includes at least one merchant terminal that reads the activation data from the activation storage medium and reads the transaction card data from the transaction storage medium.

  According to another embodiment, a method of using a transaction card device is provided. The activation account information is received from the activation portion of the transaction card during the first transaction associated with the activation account. The transaction card has a transaction portion coupled to the activation portion. The transaction portion comprises a substantially planar transaction portion substrate having a machine readable transaction storage medium provided thereon. The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the transaction account stored thereon. The energizing portion is removably coupled to the transaction portion. The biasing portion includes a substantially planar biasing partial substrate having a machine-readable biasing storage medium provided thereon. Based on the first transaction, a value is added to the transaction account. Transaction card data is received from the transaction portion during the second transaction.

  According to another embodiment, a method for printing on a composite transaction card is provided. Activation data is received that operates to activate the composite transaction card. The composite transaction card includes an activation storage medium and a transaction storage medium. Transaction data is received that operates to enable one or more transactions of the composite transaction card. The energization data and transaction data are transferred to the composite transaction card printer. The composite transaction card printer is configured to encode the activation storage medium, the activation data of the transaction storage medium, and the transaction data, respectively.

  According to another embodiment, a method for printing a composite transaction card is provided. Activation data that operates to activate the composite transaction card and transaction data that operates to enable one or more transactions of the composite transaction card are received. The composite transaction card includes an activation storage medium and a transaction storage medium. Energization data and transaction data are encoded in the energization storage medium and the transaction storage medium, respectively.

  According to another embodiment, a composite transaction card is provided. The first portion comprises a substantially flat substrate having a first machine readable storage medium provided thereto. The first storage medium has first card data associated with the account stored therein. The second portion comprises a substantially flat substrate having a second machine-readable storage medium removably coupled to the first portion and provided thereto. The second storage medium has second card data associated with the account stored therein.

  Other embodiments can also be considered.

  Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention provide a transaction card that includes a transaction portion coupled to an activation portion. The energizing portion may have an energizing storage medium that stores energizing data for energizing the card at the merchant terminal. The transaction part can comprise standard credits, debits, stored values, other transaction cards, which contain a card number and a magnetic strip that stores transaction data for conducting transactions at the merchant terminal. Can have. The energizing part can be removed from the transaction part. In some embodiments, the energizing portion may be required to be removed before using the transaction portion, or vice versa.

  Alternatively, the activation portion may be associated with a transaction account (such as a one-time use account), so that the use of the activation portion in one or more transactions affects the account associated with the transaction portion. For example, the use of an energizing portion in a transaction can energize or enable the transaction portion or add a value to an account associated with the transaction portion.

  FIG. 1 shows a composite card 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The composite card 1 includes a transaction part 14 and an urging part 12. 1A shows one surface (front surface, etc.) of the composite card 1, and B in FIG. 1 shows the other surface (back surface, etc.) of the card 1. FIG.

  Transaction portion 14 (and activation portion 12 in some embodiments) may be any standard card used for transactions such as credits, debits, stored values, or other cards. Portions 12 and 14 may have various displays. Portions 12 and 14 may have an issuer display 26 such as an issuer name. Portions 12 and 14 may also have a card name or card type indication 32 such as an indication that it is a platinum reward card (or gold card, debit card, gift card or other type of card) Good. Portions 12 and 14 may have an effective indication 22 such as an indication indicating the effective date or expiration date. The portions 12, 14 may have a card number 20 printed on the portions 12, 14 or other identification. The card number 20 may be a 16-19 digit account number (or another number) and may include a BIN. In some embodiments, the portions 12, 14 may have hanging holes 35, for example, for hanging the card on a J hook or otherwise hanging the card on a storage device or other storage facility for storage. Good. In some embodiments, the card 1 can have a cardholder name 34 and / or a cardholder photo 36, where the name and / or photo is, for example, when the customer purchases the card 1 (or thereafter). The customer's name and / or photo can be printed on or otherwise attached to the card 1 at the time of purchase or thereafter. Any or all indications on the composite card 1 may be printed (eg, embossed with raised letters / numbering), stored, or otherwise written on the transaction portion 14 or the activation portion 12.

  As will be described in detail below, the composite card 1 comprises a transaction storage medium 4 that can be applied to the surface of the transaction portion 14. The transaction storage medium 4 can be composed of any storage medium such as a magnetic strip or barcode, for example a machine-readable storage medium. The composite card 1 may also include a biased storage medium 2 that can be applied to the surface of the biasing portion 12. The biased storage medium 2 can also be composed of any storage medium such as a machine readable medium such as a magnetic strip or barcode.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the biasing portion 12 can comprise a first machine-readable medium 2 and the transaction portion 14 can comprise a transaction storage medium 4. The activation and transaction storage media 2, 4 are the same or similar to those used in credit, debit, telephone or other transaction cards well known in the art. For example, transaction portion 14 may include one or more read-only magnetically encoded strips (hereinafter “magnetic”) that encode different data according to a standard data encryption protocol readable by a conventional transaction card reader system. Can be called "strip".

  The urging storage medium 2 has urging data stored therein, and the urging data includes urging information. For example, activation data can be used to activate an account associated with transaction portion 14 and / or a card. For example, activation data is activation information similar to that used to activate a traditional telephone card or PIN, as is well known in the art. The activation data may instead (or in addition) include other transaction or account data such as account number, BIN, PIN, and / or other data. The activation data may be any type of data described in transaction data, and similarly the transaction data may be any type of data described in activation data. In some embodiments, the activation data and the transaction data are the same.

  The transaction storage medium 4 on the transaction part can store (or encode) transaction data. Transaction data can be associated with a transaction account such as a credit, debit, stored value, or other account. For example, the transaction data may include an account number. Transaction data may also include, for example, a BIN number (bank identification number) for transaction routing purposes. For example, the transaction storage medium may be a typical credit, debit or stored value card magnetic strip, which is encoded with a similar type of information (such as a card and / or account number). Can.

  The storage media 2, 4 can be used for storing, obtaining, transmitting or other processing of any type of information such as text, biometric information (such as eye scan or fingerprint information), etc.

  Data from the activation and / or transaction storage media 2, 4 is read by one or more merchant terminals (eg, credit card terminal magnetic strip readers), ATM-like readers or older transfer type readers. . One example of read-only encoded data on strips 2 and 4 is data identifying the card user, bank identification number (and / or other routing code) and / or transaction portion 14 (or activation portion 12). ) Is the category of the account that will be charged when using.

  The energized storage medium 2 and the transaction storage medium 4 can be magnetic strips having machine-readable data stored thereon, but can be barcodes, RFIDs, optical read-only memories, other magnetic memories Other, such as smart card chips, printed numbers or codes, or any other means for printing or storing information that can be attached to the card (or otherwise present or associated with the card) It will be appreciated that other storage media may be used.

  If the storage medium includes or consists of magnetic strips, the composite card 1 is swiped at the merchant's terminal so that the merchant's terminal can activate and / or transact data from the magnetic strips 2, 4 Read. In some embodiments, the transaction storage medium 4 cannot be read by the transaction card reader until the activation portion 12 is separated from the transaction portion 14. For example, traditional magnetic strip readers read only the magnetic strip adjacent to the edge of the card being swiped. Thus, according to some embodiments, the card 1 can be configured such that the transaction magnetic strip 4 is not adjacent to the exposed edge unless its biasing portion 12 is removed. Once the biasing portion 12 is removed, the transaction magnetic strip 4 of the transaction portion 14 can be swiped at the merchant's terminal like a traditional transaction card (eg, credit card or debit card).

  One or both of the transaction part 14 and the activation part 12 may have any or all of the following characteristics: account number, dotted account number, unidentified account number, security code (eg typically on the back of a credit card) 3 digit security code), signature line, signature, authorized user, effective date, expiration date, signature strip, all shielded foil, local shielding foil, card hole, color code match, characteristics Emboss, Image-specific characteristics, Ghost, Publisher name, Publisher code, Bar code, Serial number, Logo, Emblem, Artwork, Advertisement, Holographic, Identification photo, Password, Personal identification number (PIN), Identification number, Individual Information, biometric information, fingerprint, retinal impression, facial image, facial information, soundprint, command, phone number, address Have Internet addresses alone or in combination. One or both of the transaction portion 14 and the activation portion 12 may also have one or more electronic devices or radio frequency identification tags (not shown), either alone or in combination. The electronic device or radio frequency tag can be encoded identically to at least one other identifier, such as one or more magnetic strips and / or card numbers.

  The terms “energizing part” and “transaction part” are used here to describe the two parts 12, 14 of the card 1, but the urging part 12 need not have any urging function. Should be understood. Similarly, the transaction portion 14 need not have a transaction function. Instead, the activation part 12 and the transaction part 14 are for account activation, value transaction, adding value to the account, re-accounting the account, accessing account information, or any other financial function, respectively. It can have any one or more various functions. Portions 12, 14 can have similar or identical functions.

  FIG. 2 shows a side view of the composite card 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the biasing portion 12 can be made separable from the transaction portion 14 at a detachment joint 30. The biasing portion 12 and the transaction portion 14 can be removably joined in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the biasing portion 12 and the transaction portion 14 can be integrally formed into a single planar member of any suitable structure. In such an embodiment, the removal joint 30 may comprise a weak portion of the line that facilitates separation of the two card portions, such as by breaking, cutting, tearing, or splitting. The weak portion lines can be formed by any suitable method known in the art including, for example, methods by scoring or perforating card members. In another embodiment, the biasing portion 12 and the transaction portion 14 may be separately formed members that are removably attached in one or another form. The detachable joint 30 in these embodiments may have any means for releasably joining the two together including, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the composite card 1 is formed as a laminate having a substrate 5, which includes both a biasing portion 12 and a transaction portion 14. A transparent cover layer 7 can be provided on at least part of the upper surface of the substrate 5. The machine readable media 2, 4 are attached to the base card 5 without the cover 7 (as shown in FIG. 2) or they are provided under or above the cover 7 (not shown). May be.

  FIG. 3 shows a front and back view of a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the biasing portion 12 is a transaction portion on the “lower” edge of the transaction portion 14 (eg, the edge opposite the edge where the transaction portion 14 is attached in the embodiment of FIG. 1). 14 can be combined.

  It will be appreciated that the card 1 and the biasing and transaction portions 12, 14 are of any convenient shape or size. Illustratively, the transaction portion 14 may have the dimensions, shape, and other physical characteristics of a credit card, debit card, telephone card, other stored value card, or other transaction card. For example, it has almost the same (or the same) length, width, thickness and physical structure as a standard visa / master card / American Express / Discover credit or debit card or AT & T, MCI or Bel Atlantic phone card May be. The physical card may be according to industry standard schemes such as ANSI / ISO 7811 and ANSI / ISO 7813 for financial transaction cards. Although having the same physical characteristics as the transaction portion 14, the energizing portion 12 may be smaller than the transaction portion 14. It may also have the same dimensions as the transaction part 14. Alternatively, the biasing portion 12 can have physical properties (such as size and shape) of any other transaction card. Like the transaction portion 14, the biasing portion 12 may be rectangular, such as a substantially rectangular transaction card, and may have a rounded edge. It will be appreciated that transaction portion 14, which is a typical transaction card in the industry, is used according to the example here, but transaction portion 14 need not be a standard card. For example, it may have a different size and shape than a typical credit card and need not be a card.

  FIG. 6 shows the composite card of FIG. 1 after the biasing portion 12 has been removed from the transaction portion 14. After removal, the card may have a similar appearance to the removed component as shown in FIG.

  In the embodiment described above, the machine-readable media 2, 4 are located on the same surface of the composite card 1. 4 and 5 show variations of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively. FIG. 4 shows a front and back view of a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows another front and back view of a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the machine readable media 2, 4 of the transaction portion 14 and the biasing portion 12 are on opposite surfaces of the card 1. As shown in these embodiments, the biased storage medium 2 is located on the front of the card 1 and the transaction storage medium 4 is located on the opposite rear face. It will be appreciated that the relative positions of the media 2, 4 may be reversed.

  FIG. 7 shows a front and back view of a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the biasing portion 12 comprises a separate planar member that is removably attached to the front (or back) of the transaction portion 14. The biasing portion 12 may have a relatively thin layer that is adhered to the transaction portion 14, for example. Similar to many typical credit cards issued with a sticker attached to the card requesting a specific 800 number to activate the card, card 1 is a magnetic strip or other storage medium. 2 can have a sticker. The biasing portion 12 can be attached to the transaction portion 14 so that a typical merchant terminal can read the magnetic strip 2 on the adhesive.

  The biasing portion 12 can be attached with, for example, a pressure sensitive adhesive so that the biasing portion can be removed and discarded. For example, the cardholder (or merchant) can tear off the biasing portion 12 in a manner similar to sticker tearing. In some embodiments, the biasing portion 12 can be secured to the transaction portion 14 in a position such that the biasing magnetic strip 2 is removed from the transaction magnetic strip 4 of the transaction portion 14. In this way, the seller (or customer) can swipe either of the magnetic strips 2,4. Alternatively, the biasing portion 12 can be arranged to cover the transaction magnetic strip 4 so that the strip 4 cannot be read at the merchant terminal until it is removed.

  The biasing portion 12 can be removed and reattached to the transaction portion 14 and / or another surface, for example, so that it is removable and reusable, but can be removed, but on any surface It can be mounted so that it cannot be reinstalled or removed (without damaging it and / or making it useless). The biasing portion 12 can include, for example, any information printed on the biasing portion 12 and / or the biasing portion 12 can obscure the observation of information on the transaction portion 14. For example, the activation portion 12 can be used to obtain prepaid phone service and can obscure the PIN number on the transaction portion 14 that cannot be removed without detection.

  One or both of the storage media 2, 4 are either existing at the merchant terminal (eg, used in a credit card transaction) during a transaction in which the cardholder uses the card 1 to purchase goods and / or services from the merchant. It can be configured to be read by a merchant terminal. For example, the cardholder can use the transaction portion 14 to purchase merchandise from a merchant at a merchant terminal. The merchant terminal is any terminal equipped with an input device for entering card information such as a magnetic strip reader or bar code reader or keypad configured to read the magnetic strip on the card It is. The merchant terminal may also be any merchant terminal configured to read transaction card data, such as credit card data, as is known in the art.

  8A and 8B show a composite card according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows a j-hook portion 39 of a composite card having a j-hook hole 35 (also known as a hanging hole). As described above, the j-hook hole can be used to hang the composite card 1 on the vendor's display device by inserting a display rod through the j-hook hole 35, for example. In this way, the composite card 1 can be hung on a hook (or other rod) on the consumer's display. The j-hook portion 39 can be separated from the biasing portion 12 at the j-hook score line, which can be any cut or indentation to allow one part of the composite card 1 to be separated from another part or Other means can be provided. The j-hook portion 39 and / or j-hook 35 can be attached to either the biasing portion 12 or the transaction portion 14 (not shown) (as shown in FIG. 8A) or a composite card It will be appreciated that it can be mounted along one side edge (eg, the side edge along the left side of the card in the drawing).

  FIG. 8B shows the same composite card after the j-hook portion has been removed from the rest of the composite card. FIG. 8B also shows a score line 38. The energizing portion 12 and the transaction portion 14 can be separated by a card score line 37.

  FIG. 9 shows a system 100 for processing a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes one or more merchants 52, one or more merchant terminals 50, one or more communication networks 54, an activation processor 60, and a central processor 70. Each seller 52 has, for example, one or more seller terminals 50 in the seller store. Each of the one or more merchant terminals 50 may be connected to the activation processor 60 and / or the transaction processor 70 and / or the bank 56 via one or more communication networks 54. Vendor terminals 50 from various vendors 52 can use the same communication network 54, and each terminal 50 can use more than one communication network 54.

  The activation processor 60 and the central processor 70 may be any server, computer, computer system, hub, database, data processor, bank, credit network or other computer system or any other processor. The activation processor 60 and the central processor 70 can be configured to process data read from one or both of the machine-readable media 2, 4 of any of the card embodiments described above.

  The activation processor can be configured to activate the transaction portion of the composite card of the present invention. In some embodiments, the activation processor 60 receives the activation data from the merchant terminal 50 via the computer network 54 and then activates the transaction portion. For example, the merchant terminal can swipe the magnetic strip of the activation portion of the composite card, read the activation data from the card, and pass the activation data to the activation processor.

  In some embodiments, the central processor 70 processes transactions. For example, the central processor is a credit card or debit card processing system whereby traditional credit and debit card purchases are processed. The central processor accesses the account and transfers funds to or from the account for other accounts, such as the merchant 52 account. The communication network 54 may comprise any communication device or network for communicating between the merchant terminal (or other card reader) and the processor. Such techniques used to perform such communications include networks, dedicated circuits, IP-based connections, the Internet, intranets, extranets, LANs, WANs, VPNs, Ethernets or any clients that communicate, for example Server system is included. Such communication technologies include, for example, TCP / IP, UDP, OSI, SNA, X. Any suitable protocol such as 25, ISO 85/83, XML or SOAP can be used. The communication network may pass data between or within one or more banks 54, one or more activation processors 60, one or more central processors 70 and one or more merchant terminals 50.

  It will be appreciated that the system 100 may be used for host-to-host activation. For example, card activation or transactions may occur on the merchant's private network 54 (eg, a closed network) or on the terminal 50 itself rather than an open network. Thus, in some embodiments, communication network 54 may be a private merchant network and activation processor 60 and / or central processor 70 may be a merchant processor. Data communications can be transferred between different components in a single merchant store, or they can be transferred from between a network of merchant stores to a centralized merchant processor 60,70. Here, the biasing processor 60 may be the central processor 70.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a method of using a composite transaction card according to one embodiment of the present invention. At step 1010, the customer purchases a composite card. A composite card includes any card as described herein, and has a transaction portion coupled to an activation portion. The energizing portion has an energizing storage medium, and the transaction portion has a transaction storage medium. Energized storage media and transaction storage media may be magnetic strips with machine-readable data stored on them, but barcodes, RFID, optical read-only memory, other magnetic memories, smart Other storage such as card chips, printed numbers or codes, or any other means of printing or storing information that can be attached to the card (or otherwise present or associated with the card) It will be appreciated that media may be used.

  The at least one activation and transaction storage medium may store information related to an account associated with the composite card, such as a credit account, a stored value account (eg, a gift card account), a debit account or other account. Methods for storing information such as magnetic strip or other storage media card account information are well known in the art.

  In some embodiments, the transaction storage medium can be used to activate the card.

  During the purchase transaction, the purchaser may add a value to the account associated with the card. For example, the purchaser pays $ 50 to the merchant's points and the account can generate (or modify) an account associated with the card (eg, the card number in the transaction portion), so that the account has a balance of $ 50 (or If you already have funds, you have an additional $ 50).

  Note that the card does not need to be purchased at the counter. For example, the card may be issued to the cardholder by mail or otherwise given to the cardholder (e.g., free or rewarded or refunded). In such a case, this step 1010 is not required. Instead, this step includes a purchase transaction, where the value is purchased and added to the account associated with the card. It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the value may be added later through this process.

  In step 1020, the merchant terminal reads the activation data from the activation storage medium. The energizing storage medium may be an energizing portion of the composite card. The energized storage medium may alternatively (or in addition) be in a transaction part, which further comprises a transaction storage medium. The merchant terminal may be the same merchant terminal from which the composite card was purchased.

  The bias data is read at the point of a sales device such as a magnetic card reader at the merchant terminal. This is done during (or after) a purchase or activation transaction. For example, this step 1020 can be performed during the operation of step 1010 or during subsequent transactions.

  At step 1030, the activation data is transferred to a processor, such as an activation processor (or central processor). Data can be sent over a communications network. This step 1030 may be performed like a normal credit and debit card transaction, where the data is read from the card (eg, from the storage medium of the active portion) and issued by a bank or other financial institution computer system. To a processor such as Data can be transmitted through a credit or debit card network, or other financial transaction network or other communication network.

  The data may include a BIN number that allows the credit network to transmit the transaction to the appropriate bank to process the transaction. Alternatively, the data can be sent over a private network (such as a WAN or LAN) to be processed by a central processor in the network. For example, if a card is associated with a particular merchant and the data is entered at one particular merchant terminal, the data can be processed by the merchant's central processor.

  In some embodiments, the activation portion may comprise a once-used transaction card, for example a card associated with a once-used transaction account or value. Thus, this step 1030 includes reading the energized portion of the storage medium once during the transaction associated with the account or value of use. The value can be recovered during the transaction. In some embodiments, the transaction portion cannot be energized until after the energizing portion has been used in a single use transaction. It should be noted that once used cards are used as an example, the cards may have other activation criteria such as used twice, a specific purchase threshold or other criteria It is. For example, the transaction portion cannot be activated in subsequent transactions until the activation portion is used twice a month in a purchase of $ 100 in total. If this condition is met, the transaction portion can be energized for subsequent use, as shown at step 1040.

  At step 1040, the transaction card (ie, the transaction portion of the card) can be automatically activated or registered, for example. The activation processor has a database that stores card numbers or other data, and the central processor activates a particular card (eg, by modifying the database entry corresponding to that card as identified by the data) Or you can modify the database to show that you are registered. Alternatively, the activation processor may request another entity to activate the card.

  The activation step can allow the card (eg, transaction portion) to be used in subsequent merchant transactions. In some embodiments, one entity, such as an issuer, can activate a transaction card (eg, by processing data read from the activation portion) and (for a particular merchant or bank) Another entity (such as by processing data received from the transaction portion) can process subsequent transactions after activation. The issuer (or other entity) can handle the activation by notifying the bank (or other entity) that the card has been activated.

  When activated, the transaction part is effective as a normal credit, debit, stored value card (such as a gift card valid only for a particular participating merchant and / or a particular merchant partner) It is effective for. The card can be used in transactions over the Internet (or telephone, or other transaction means).

  A transaction card (ie, the transaction portion of a composite card) is any type of transaction card. For example, this may be a once-used card or a stored value card (eg, a downloadable music card). The value associated with the card is in accordance with one or more previous transactions involved in the activation portion. For example, the transaction portion may be a downloadable music card having a song value (eg, the number of songs) relating to the total amount of transactions associated with the activation portion. For example, if a value of $ 200 is purchased using the activation portion, the account associated with the transaction portion stores a credit from which 20 songs are downloaded.

  In step 1050, the energizing portion is separated from the transaction portion. For example, the cardholder or merchant removes the biasing portion immediately after the card is swiped at step 1030 (or at any other time, such as another time prior to step 1060, such as before step 1040) ( Alternatively, it may be broken, torn, split, cut or otherwise divided). Depending on the embodiment, the cardholder may discard the activation portion and retain the transaction portion for use in future merchant transactions.

  The transaction portion can then be used in subsequent transactions in the same way as a normal transaction card (eg, credit or debit card). For example, the card can be used for transactions at merchant terminals and the Internet.

  At step 1060, the merchant terminal reads transaction data from the transaction portion. Reading data is done in any manner as described in step 1020. For example, the merchant terminal can read the magnetic strip of the transaction part. The data may be an account number or any other number or code. For example, the data may be a card number and / or BIN. Transaction data can be read during the normal transaction of the transaction part.

  This merchant terminal may be the same merchant terminal as used in step 1020, or may be a different merchant terminal. The terminal may also be associated with different merchants.

  In some embodiments, the merchant is the same merchant that processes all transaction card transactions. For example, if a card is associated with a particular merchant and is valid only with the participating merchant (and / or its partner), the particular merchant maintains a card account (for purchases from the merchant). Process all card transactions.

  At step 1070, the transaction data is sent to the central processor, eg, via a communication network. This step is performed by any method described in step 1030. For example, the magnetic strip of the transaction portion may be swiped at the merchant terminal, which can read the data and pass it to the central processor via the communication network. The merchant terminal may transfer the data to the bank and / or central processor.

  At step 1080, the transaction is processed. The cardholder can use the transaction portion (eg, credit or debit card) to make purchases or payments from the merchant at the merchant terminal (or via the Internet or other transaction means). The funds can be transferred to or from a bank account, for example in the direction of the central processor. For example, funds can be transferred from an account associated with a transaction card, such as a credit or debit account, to a merchant account or other account.

  After execution of the process shown in FIG. 10, one or more subsequent transactions can be processed by reading transaction data from an activated storage medium at one or more merchant terminals. This step may include reading transaction data at one or more merchant terminals (eg, the same or different terminal used in step 1060 and / or step 1020).

  Note that instead of reading data from the card at the merchant terminal (eg, at steps 1020 and 1060), the card data can be entered over the Internet. For example, there may be an account number associated with the activation portion and another number associated with the transaction portion. For example, the number is printed on the card. Instead of sending data (eg, numbers) from the merchant terminal to the processor, they may be entered directly at a website, eg, a website associated with that processor.

  It should also be noted that the transaction portion may be any standard transaction card such as a credit card, debit card, stored value card. The stored value card is used to access one or more goods or services, such as prepaid goods or services, and can be enabled by a PIN. Examples of services that can be adapted or accessed by stored value cards include long distance telephony, wireless communication, paging and Internet enabled communication services, which are wireless web access, Emergency road service, legal service, accounting service, tax service, appropriate cleaning and / or maintenance service, clothes / clothing cleaning service, transportation service, travel service, courier service, online (or offline) date service, electricity and / or Includes gas service, water service, sewage service, Internet access, film processing (including digital film processing), etc. Other examples of prepaid services and / or goods that can be accessed by stored value cards include gift accounts, prepaid gas accounts, prepaid daily goods accounts, prepaid entertainment accounts, prepaid movie accounts, downloadable bells Tone account, downloadable game account, downloadable movie account, downloadable music account using MP3, MP4, WMV, WAV or other music formats, any other downloadable software account, customer reward account, Any other type of PIN enablement for bridge and / or road toll accounts, goods payable by the account owner, services or both Stored value account is included in the.

  FIG. 11 illustrates a composite transaction card encoding method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  At step 1110, energization data is received. For example, the central processor can receive activation data from a merchant associated with the composite transaction card.

  At step 1120, transaction data is received. For example, the central processor can receive transaction data from a merchant associated with the composite transaction card. This step can take place before, after and during step 1110.

  As described above, activation and transaction data may include account numbers, codes, instructions, or any other data. For example, any type of data can be stored on the card by a bar code, magnetic strip, or other storage device on the card. The data may also include any information that can be printed on the card, such as a merchant or cardholder name.

  In some embodiments, the data is received from a merchant that has been enrolled by an activation and / or card related transaction. For example, one type of stored value may be activated by a particular card retailer and then used only by special toy vendors. Thus, the central processor can receive activation data from the card retailer and transaction data from the toy seller.

  At step 1130, the activation and transaction data is processed. For example, activation data for a particular card can be stored in a recording section in the database, and transaction data for the same particular card can be stored in the same database record. The activation and transaction data for a particular card (or set of cards) are thus combined and / or otherwise interrelated. The activation data need not be processed simultaneously with the transaction data, one or the other can be processed immediately after being received at steps 1110 and 1120.

  At step 1140, the activation and transaction data is transferred to the encoding machine or printer. The printer (or encoding machine) comprises any entity that prints, encodes, or stores data in or on the storage medium of the transaction card, or otherwise manufactures all or part of the transaction card May be. For example, the printer may be an entity that encodes the magnetic stripe (or other storage medium) of a credit card or other transaction card having one or more magnetic stripes.

  At step 1150, the card is encoded or otherwise energized data, transaction data and / or other data is printed. For example, transaction data can be encoded on one storage medium, such as a magnetic stripe, and activation data can be encoded on another magnetic stripe. Energization and encoding of transaction data can occur substantially (or accurately) during simultaneous and / or identical printing cycles. During encoding, the card can be printed. Printing writes an identification mark on the card, embosses the name and / or card number, and relates to a logo or other design (eg, card issuer, card sponsor, credit network, or other entity associated with the card) (Design or display) draw, stack cards, add stickers, otherwise change cards to transform from flat plastic pieces to consumer-grade (shown in Figure 1) composite transaction cards Including that.

  Thus, in step 1115, the composite card can be encoded with transaction data on one storage medium and also encoded with activation data on another storage medium substantially simultaneously. Printing is also performed substantially simultaneously. This step 1150 thus allows the composite card to be encoded and / or printed in a single pass, thus saving time and money. This is because a card with two storage media only needs to be operated through the encoding and / or printing machine once in total (not twice or once for each storage medium) Facilitates card printing.

  Embodiments of the present invention are not limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Numerous variations, modifications, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, although some embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in the context of a particular configuration in a particular environment for a particular purpose, those skilled in the art are not limited in its usefulness to the embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that can be conveniently implemented in many environments for any of many purposes. Accordingly, all contents described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting, and the scope of the present invention is intended to be determined solely by the appended claims. Further, the claims should be construed in consideration of the entire technical scope of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein.

The front and back views of the composite card according to one embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The front and back views of the composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The front and back views of the composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The front and back views of the composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front and rear view of a removed component of a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The front and back views of the composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the composite card according to one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a system that uses a composite card according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a method of using a transaction card device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the encoding method of the composite transaction card according to one Embodiment of this invention.

Claims (46)

A transaction portion comprising a substantially planar transaction portion substrate having a machine-readable transaction storage medium provided, the transaction storage medium having transaction card data associated with an account stored thereon;
A substantially planar biasing portion substrate removably coupled to the transaction portion and having a machine readable biasing storage medium provided thereto, the biasing storage medium being associated with an account stored therein A composite transaction card comprising an activation portion having data.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction and activation storage medium is readable at one or more merchant terminals.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the account is a stored value account.   The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the account is at least one of a debit account and a gift card account.   2. The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transaction storage medium and the energization storage medium is a read-only magnetic strip.   2. The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the transaction storage medium and the energization storage medium is a bar code.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the activation data includes an account number associated with the account, and the account number is printed on the transaction portion.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the activation and transaction storage medium has a format and physical characteristics substantially similar to a traditional credit card magnetic strip.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the biasing portion is adhered to the surface of the transaction portion.   The energized storage media and the transaction storage media are read-only magnetic strips that are parallel to the length of the composite card and extend at least substantially across the length of the composite card. The composite transaction card according to claim 1.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction and energized storage media are read-only magnetic strips having substantially similar lengths and widths.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the activation data includes transaction card data.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction card data includes activation data.   2. The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the biasing portion and the transaction portion are integrally formed as a single planar member, and the biasing portion is separable from the transaction portion along the detachable joint.   15. The composite transaction card of claim 14, wherein the removal joint comprises a weak portion of the line formed by drilling or scoring an integrated planar member.   2. The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the urging portion is flush with the transaction portion.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the biasing portion and the transaction portion comprise substantially similar substrates.   The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the transaction part is a debit card.   The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the transaction part is a credit card.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction portion is a stored value card.   The composite transaction card according to claim 1, wherein the transaction part is a gift card.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction portion is a gift card associated with a particular merchant.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the transaction portion and the biasing portion are each formed as a substantially flat member, and the biasing portion is detachably coupled to the transaction portion by an adhesive.   The composite transaction card of claim 23, wherein the transaction portion is a standard transaction card.   The composite transaction card of claim 1, wherein the activation and transaction storage medium can be read by one or more merchant terminals.   26. The composite transaction card of claim 25, wherein the transaction card data is configured to access an account of an associated stored value and the activation data is operative to activate the account.   26. The composite transaction card of claim 25, wherein the transaction card data is operative to deposit the account again.   26. The composite transaction card of claim 25, wherein the transaction card data is operative to purchase goods and services at a merchant terminal. In a method of using a composite transaction card having a transaction portion that includes a machine-readable transaction storage medium and a removable activation portion that includes a machine-readable activation storage medium.
The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the account stored therein, the activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein, and the method comprises:
Reading the activation data from the activation storage medium at the first merchant terminal;
Remove the energizing part from the transaction part,
A method comprising reading transaction data from a transaction storage medium at a second merchant terminal.   30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of reading transaction data is performed only after execution of the removal step.   30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of sending the activation data to the activation processor.   30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of transferring transaction card data to the central processor.   The method of claim 30, wherein the biased storage medium is a magnetic strip.   The method of claim 30, wherein the transaction storage medium is a magnetic strip.   The method of claim 30, wherein the transaction card data includes a transaction account number.   32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first read-only storage medium stores single use transaction card data. In a system for processing a composite transaction card having a transaction portion including a machine readable transaction storage medium and a removable activation portion including a machine readable activation storage medium.
The transaction storage medium has transaction card data associated with the account stored therein, the activation storage medium has activation data associated with the account stored therein, and the system includes an activation storage medium At least one merchant terminal that reads the activation data from the transaction storage data from the transaction storage medium;
An activation processor that receives activation data from at least one merchant terminal and activates a transaction account associated with the transaction card data;
A transaction processor for receiving and processing transaction data from at least one merchant terminal. In a method of using a transaction card device,
During the first transaction associated with the activation account, activation account information is received from the activation portion of the transaction card, the transaction card comprising a transaction portion coupled to the activation portion, the transaction portion provided thereto Having a substantially flat transaction partial board having a machine readable transaction storage medium, the transaction storage medium having transaction card data associated with a transaction account stored thereon, and the activation part being a transaction A biasing portion having a substantially flat biasing partial substrate having a machine-readable biasing storage medium provided thereto, removably coupled to the portion;
Add a value to the transaction account based on the first transaction,
Receiving transaction card data from a transaction portion during a second transaction.   39. The method of claim 38, further comprising recovering the added value of the transaction account during the second transaction.   40. The method of claim 38, wherein the activation account is a transaction account. In the method of printing a composite transaction card,
Receiving activation data operative to activate the composite transaction card, the composite transaction card comprising an activation storage medium and a transaction storage medium;
Receiving transaction data that operates to enable one or more transactions of the composite transaction card;
A method of transferring activation data and transaction data to a composite transaction card printer, wherein the composite transaction card printer is configured to encode the activation storage medium and the activation data and transaction data of the transaction storage medium, respectively.   42. The method of claim 41, wherein the composite transaction card printer is further configured to encode both the activation storage medium and transaction storage medium activation data and transaction data, respectively, in a single pass.   Receiving activation data operable to activate the composite transaction card and transaction data operable to enable one or more transactions of the composite transaction card, the composite transaction card receiving the activation storage medium and the transaction storage; A method of printing a composite transaction card having media and encoding the activation data and transaction data of the activation storage medium and the transaction storage medium, respectively.   44. The method of claim 43, wherein the act of encoding the energization data on the energization storage medium and the action of encoding the transaction data on the transaction storage medium are performed substantially simultaneously.   44. The method of claim 43, wherein the act of encoding the energization data on the energization storage medium and the operation of encoding the transaction data on the transaction storage medium are performed through the encoding machine during the same transit period. A first portion comprising a substantially flat substrate having a first machine-readable storage medium provided;
A second portion having a substantially flat substrate removably coupled to the first portion and having a second machine-readable storage medium provided thereto, wherein the first storage medium is disposed therein. Having first card data associated with a stored account;
A composite transaction card wherein the second storage medium has second card data associated with an account stored therein.

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